Scopolamine
Scopolamine, also called hyoscine, has a chemical structure very close to that of atropine. Its peripheral effects are similar to those of atropine, but its central effects differ: it has a sedative and tranquillizing action, it induces sleep, reinforces the action of hypnotics and tranquilizers and has an amnestic effect. However in patients who experience strong pains, it can have an exciting effect and elicit hallucinations.
Scopolamine is used by injectable route as an antispasmodic in certain acute pains with spasmogenic component of digestive or gynaecological localization and in the treatment of agonic rails by obstruction of the higher air routes by excess of salivary secretion.
By percutaneous route it is primarily used as an antiemetic agent in the prevention of motion sickness.
It should be noted that scopolamine was marketed a long time in France under the name of Buscopan *, proprietary name always used in many countries.
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